Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-04-21


and the careless are compelled to take
an interest. In respect to q common
school system Prussia was our great
example, and all scholars may burn
incense to the ghost of Frederick the
Great. But circumstances demanded
that Prussia should be all sting. Ac-
cordingly, the chief end of man was to
shoot and be shot, and as a conse-
quence, for healthy boys the school Is
the anteroom of the barracks, and for
the women, the social regime is that of
a garrisoned town, which is long on
balls and short on weddings. And
from the two ideas all Germany il run
ming away as fast as can. Fifty years
ago, when the state of Ohio was about
to adopt system of common schools,
she sent G. E. Stowe, an minent scien-
tist, to Prussia to study on the ground
the school system of that country. Two
years time was taken and an elaborate
and even exhaustive report was pre-
pared. 1t was found that but little OF
the Prussian system could be copied
by Us, as it ignored the true relations
of the citizen to society and gave too
much prominence to the destructive
Industries. All our institutions recog-
nize the right of every man to be as
good as every other man if he chooses
so to be, and all our political economy
looks primarily to the industries of
peace.
To frame system of common school
education in accordance with these
facts, was work but little less difficult
than to organize our government at
the first. To-day the work of admins
tering system of common school
education is badly handicapped by the
fact that our best thinkers ART puzzled
to tell exactly how far communism is
the initial idea of the Declaration of In
dependence gone to seed.
These are days of transition. Every
body seems to be moving to every
other ones house. In such time some
points must be recognized as settled.
AS our school system is of great i'm
portance in connection with our whole
organization, and as the teacher is all
imp, rtant factor in our school system,
it is proposed to definitely locate him
1t is assumed that every condition pre-
cedent has been complied with and
T that the teacher is in the school room
What is his exact legal status? He is
as really an officer of the State as the
Governor. A mans right to official
standing does not arise from the mode
of his induction into office, bu: from
the fact that he has complied with
the mode prescribed by law. Being 8
State official he can only be reached
through the courts of the State. This
idea will be enlarged upon presently
t The teacher acting jointly with the
board Of directors is the making
f power of the school, i'm all matters moi
deter mined by statute. No patron o
, the school can legisfate IN regard to it
No member of the board Can make &
= law, nor the board of directors, indie
f penden of the teacher. It is true tina
boards of directors sometimes assum,
I the sole right to make laws, and as {
rule it is advisable for the teacher t.
accept of them, as they usually demant
some respect to the common decencie!
of life, and he is free from the respon
sibility of making them and has larg,
field of judicial wisdom in their explain
alton and full scope for all his executiv,
capacity in their enforcement. Tn,
leg islation of teachers and boards il
, inadequate, because it cannot contro
the parents. Some effort is being made
in this direction by the advocates o
compulsory education. This is "a meas
: ure in regard to which Sir Roger dc
Gov erly might truly observe that 6
great deal can be said on both sides.
Every experienced teacher knows
that there are, in every district, more
or less scholars whose absence from
school is a positive blessing to the school,
Any law for compulsory educa ton will
be defective if it does not provide for
the Establishment of reform schools.
1t remains to consider the steps to be
taken to annul a teachers certificate.
The statute says that certificate can
be annulled for immortality or incom-
potency proved.
The principal point in the case is,
that the county commissioner has no
power to try any man. His duties are
purely executive. For immortality
the teacher must be proceeded against
by information or Indictment before a
Justice or circuit court, and upon con.
viction, certified transcript of the
docket being laid before the commits
sioner, he can annul the certificate.
There IS more difficulty In proce ed
ing for incompetency, as there is 10
law against q mans being an ass.
Where the immortality or iDcompe-
tency is apparent the commissioner can
withhold a certificate or the contract
can be so drawn as to be vacated at the
end of any mouth.
! THOMAS CALLAHAN.
The Peerless and Wright's Laurel Cigars
are the Best: For sale at Fairchild's. Try
them!
/ COiOred Soclefy Notes.